Whisky : Laphroaig 8 Year, Scotch Universe Io III

Country/Region : Scotland/Islay

ABV : 57.8%

Cask : First fill Oloroso

Nose : Meats and sweets with just a hint of medicinal iodine and salty maritime.  Rich smoke off dripping barbecue pork ribs, applewood smoked bacon, and waxy red apple skins.  Charred driftwood, tug boat at work, and sweet caramelizing brown sugar all develop in the background.

Palate :  Lovely thick oily mouthfeel with a slight tannic dryness.  Salted chocolate almonds, salted caramel, smoked chocolate, rich espresso, and almond cookies— smokey bbq dessert buffet.  Rich mole sauce, roast beef, with a kiss of vanilla and pancake syrup. 

Finish :  Lingering salted chocolate, iodine, and coal ash.

Score : 7

Mental Image : Flaming Chocolate Nuts

Something Similar : Laphroaig PX Cask (similar BBQ meat, more gunpowder)

Something Similar : Benriach 6 Year; Duncan Taylor Octave (similar bacon, more fruits)

Something Worse : Blackadder Peat Reek Embers #7 (similar chocolate/smoke, less complex)

Notes :  Absolutely killer example of the rich depths achieved by combining Laphroaig and Oloroso.  It is hard to not immidiately compare this to the 2019 Cairdeas which was finished in Oloroso casks.  While while the Cairdeas had more maritime notes on the palate, this was much thicker and meatier.  This single cask was so oily that it just covered the tongue and sat like a lazy cat warming the palate.  It had a much richer profile with greater depth.  It was not as easy to drink as the Cairdeas— that bottle is the result of batching multiple casks and has therefore achieved a more well rounded palate and a generally more welcoming intensity.  I do not mind the brashness of this dram, it was really wonderful.  On any given night I would be more likely to grab this out of the cabinet and have it punch me in the face that I would reach for the Cairdeas.